George Burrows

George Burrows is Professor and Associate Dean (Research and Innovation) in the Faculty of Creative & Cultural Industries at the University of Portsmouth. He has been a core academic figure at the university for over 14 years and leads the research group in Music, Dance, Drama and Performing Arts. He is actively involved in PhD supervision and curriculum development.

Education:

• PhD in Music, Newcastle University (2010)
• MLitt in Music, Newcastle University
• BMus (Hons), University of Birmingham
• Postgraduate Certificate in Learning and Teaching in Higher Education, University of Portsmouth

His research centers on socio-political discourses in musical theatre and jazz, particularly from the interwar period, with a strong focus on race, gender, and sexuality. He employs interdisciplinary methodologies, including Lacanian psychoanalysis and cultural theory. His work extends into sound technologies, ocean liner music, and choral culture, blending archival research with practice-based performance. He is deeply committed to integrating scholarly and artistic practice, exemplified by his direction of the University of Portsmouth Choir and his recreation of historical performances.

His recent publications span musical theatre, jazz history, and sound studies, reflecting a consistent engagement with cultural memory, identity, and representation. The trend across his articles shows a move from textual and theoretical analysis toward practice-led research and public engagement, particularly in heritage and anti-racism in music education.

Scientific Awards:

• Best Discography, Association for Recorded Sound Collections (2020)
• Best Historical Research in Recorded Jazz, Association for Recorded Sound Collections (2020)

George Burrows supervises PhD students and has guided three to completion. He has led curriculum development for multiple undergraduate programs and secured external funding, including from the Arts & Humanities Research Council for the Musical Theatre and All That Jazz Research Network. He is the founder and co-editor of Studies in Musical Theatre and the Song, Stage and Screen conference series, contributing significantly to the academic community.

He leads the Music, Dance, Drama and Performing Arts research group and is instrumental in the university’s Research Excellence Framework submission for Unit of Assessment 33. His work bridges academia and practice, fostering collaboration across disciplines and institutions.